Local Leaders Join Roxbury Y for Its 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Business and Community Breakfast

ROXBURY, MA and WELLESLEY, MA (Jan. 21, 2016) – The Roxbury YMCA brings together politicians and business and community leaders for its 8th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Business and Community Breakfast to reflect on the legacy and values of Dr. King and to raise funds in support of its community services. Sun Life Financial’s Cross-Cultural Continuum (C3) is one of two outstanding community leaders recognized during the event’s awards ceremony.

C3,a diversity and inclusion group that has been a valued resource for the young people and families at the Roxbury Y, was selected to receive the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Corporate Leadership Award. C3’s efforts include partnering with the Urban League to provide on-site job shadowing and career guidance to inner-city youth, and partnering with the Boston Celtics for the Fit to Win program, a four-week event encouraging kids to participate in fitness and healthy living activities.

“At Sun Life we strongly believe in diversity as a key component to a successful business,” said Emily Schur, Vice President of Human Resources at Sun Life Financial U.S. “We have a great history of partnering with YMCAs around Greater Boston and look forward to continuing to work with the Roxbury Y as part of our C3 efforts.”

Candace Sealey, District Representative to Congressman Capuano and past Chair of the Roxbury YMCA Board of Advisors, accepted the Keeper of the Dream Community Service Award during the ceremony. The event also included a blessing by the Reverend Dr. Alvan Johnson, Jr., Pastor from Grant AME Church; a performance of the Black National Anthem, “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” sung by the Honorable Judge Milton Wright; and youth performances. The event complements the YMCA’s King Holiday Day of Service, which consists of community service projects geared toward strengthening the footprint of the Roxbury community on Warren Avenue and Martin Luther King Boulevard.

“We are part of a great network of community services in Roxbury, but the Y is truly the one place that is for everyone, from infants to seniors,” said Kathryn Saunders, Executive Director of the Roxbury Y. “We depend on fundraising to continue and expand these services.”

The funds raised through the Roxbury Y’s Martin Luther King Jr. breakfast stay in the community and directly support the community the branch serves. For more information, visit ymcaboston.org/MLKbreakfast.

About the Roxbury YMCA
The Roxbury YMCA counts on the generosity of members, partners, volunteers and staff to ensure that anyone interested in becoming a member of the Y is never turned away due to their inability pay. The Roxbury YMCA is one of 13 branches of the YMCA of Greater Boston, the state’s leading nonprofit committed to strengthening communities. Every day the Y works with thousands of men, women and children to make sure that everyone, regardless of age, income or background, has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive.

About Sun Life Financial
Sun Life Financial is a leading international financial services organization providing a diverse range of protection and wealth products and services to individuals and corporate customers. The Sun Life Financial group of companies operates under the “Sun Life Financial” name strictly as a marketing name and no legal significance is expressed or implied. Sun Life Financial and its partners today have operations in key markets worldwide, including Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Hong Kong, the Philippines, Japan, Indonesia, India, China, Australia, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Bermuda. In the United States and elsewhere, insurance products are offered by members of the Sun Life Financial group that are insurance companies. In the United States, Sun Life Financial provides a range of products and services to employers and their employees, including Group and Voluntary Accident, Critical Illness, Dental, Disability, Life, and Stop-Loss insurance products. Sun Life Financial Inc., the holding company for the Sun Life Financial group of companies, is a public company. It is not an insurance company and does not offer insurance products for sale in the United States or elsewhere, and does not guarantee the obligations of its insurance company subsidiaries. Sun Life Financial Inc. trades on the Toronto (TSX), New York (NYSE), and Philippine (PSE) stock exchanges under the ticker symbol SLF. For more information, please visit www.sunlife.com/us.